Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier seized the rally lead on Friday’s final stage, setting an impressive fastest time. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux ended the day in second place ahead of teammate Ott Tänak.
“It was a good day. I gave everything I had, so I can be satisfied,” Ogier said.
But the biggest talking point of the day was undoubtedly the Telti–Calangianus–Berchidda stage, which was run twice and proved to be brutal for the field. In the morning loop, all three M-Sport Ford drivers retired on that same stage in quick succession: first Grégoire Munster, then Josh McErlean, and finally Martins Sesks.
In the afternoon, the same stage ended Thierry Neuville’s rally. Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta and Ford’s Jourdan Serderidis also rolled their cars there but were able to continue.
All of this chaos benefitted Toyota drivers Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans, who struggled with road-cleaning duties early in the day. On Saturday, they’ll have a more favourable road position on cleaner lines.
At the top, things remain extremely tight. Ogier leads Fourmaux by just 2.1 seconds. Tänak is also well in the fight, sitting 7.3 seconds off the lead. Toyota’s Sami Pajari ends the day in fourth, 16.8 seconds behind Ogier.
Rovanperä was in strong form during the afternoon loop and clocked the second-fastest time on the day’s final stage, just behind Ogier. In the overall standings, Rovanperä is fifth, 22.8 seconds off the lead.
“The car setup feels better now. The road conditions were also more consistent. We gave it everything today. Even though this isn’t my favourite rally, I pushed flat out on every stage. That was the maximum we could do today,” Rovanperä said at the stage finish.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans will start Saturday’s stages from sixth overall, trailing Ogier by just over a minute.
Rally Sardinia continues on Saturday with six special stages. The event concludes on Sunday.
Rally Sardinia standings after SS6/16:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | 1:10:33.1 |
| 2. | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | +2.1 |
| 3. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +7.3 |
| 4. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +16.8 |
| 5. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +22.8 |
| 6. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +1:09.8 |
| 7. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +2:27.9 |
Rally Sardinia itinerary (CET):
Thursday 5.6. 14.01 Shakedown: Olbia Cabu Abbas (2,19 km) Friday 6.6. 10.01 SS1: Arzachena 1 (13,97 km) 11.16 SS2: Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda 1 (18,43 km) 12.31 SS3: Sa Conchedda 1 (27,95 km) 15.05 Service (40 min) 16.31 SS4: Arzachena 2 (13,97 km) 17.46 SS5: Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda 2 (18,43 km) 19.01 SS6: Sa Conchedda 2 (27,95 km) Saturday 7.6. 10.05 SS7: Coiluna - Loelle 1 (21,18 km) 11.16 SS8: Lerno - Su Filigosu 1 (24,34 km) 12.31 SS9: Tula - Erula 1 (15,28 km) 14.20 Service (40 min) 16.05 SS10: Coiluna - Loelle 2 (21,18 km) 17.16 SS11: Lerno - Su Filigosu 2 (24,34 km) 18.31 SS12: Tula - Erula 2 (15,28 km) Sunday 8.6. 08.25 SS13: San Giacomo - Plebi 1 (25,19 km) 09.35 SS14: Porto San Paolo 1 (13,70 km) 11.50 SS15: San Giacomo - Plebi 2 (25,19 km) 13.30 Service (15 min) 14.15 SS16: Porto San Paolo 2 (13,70 km) *Power Stage
